Match-box.



V. T. & H'. MOYS.

` MATGH BOX. l APPLIOATIdN FILED JUNE 1, 1910.

Patenta 11u28, 19-11.

VIVIAN T. IVIOYS AND HUBERT E. MOYS, OF CRADOCK, CAPE COLONY.

MATCH-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented B131', 28, 1911.

Application filed .Tune 1, 1910. Serial No. 564,404.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, VIVIAN T. Mors and HUBERT E. Mors subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing at Cradock, Cape Colony, South Africa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to match boxes of the safety match box type, the object of the invention being to provide a box of this character in which the body of the box is provided with a loose bottom for forming a compartment for used matches opposite the compartment in which the unused matches are held, in which rst-named compartment t-he burned matches as used may be stored, thus obviating the necessity of throwing the burned matches on the oor or of mixing the used matches with the good ones, with the attendant annoyance in separat-ing unused from used matches.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of a match box embodying our invention, showing the body or drawer partially withdrawn. Fig. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the drawer. F ig. 4 is a cross section thereof. Fig. 5 is a view similar to F ig. 2, showing a modification.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, l designates the body of the box, which is open at the top for the insertion and withdrawal of the matches from the match compartment, and is adapted to lit as usual within an open ended casing 2, such type of box being commonly employed for holding safety matches. The casing 2 differs from those of ordinary construction in that it is provided at one end with a rolled or turned portion 3 forming an indicating head, for a purpose hereinafter described. The body or drawer 1 is provided with a fixed bottom section or flange 4 coextensive in width therewith and extending inwardly from one end of the drawer preferably to a degree somewhat more than one-half (about three quarters) of the length of the drawer, leaving the remaining portion of the bottom of the drawer open to form a slot or opening 4a for the insertion of the burned matches.

Arranged within the drawer is a loose, movable false bottom or floor 5, which is adapted to close said slot against communication with the compartment 6 in which theunused matches 7 are stored, and to form a support for said matches, as well as a partition movable to decrease the depth of the chamber 6 as the matches are used to provide a compartment or chamber 8 between the fixed bottom or flange and the movable bottom to receive and hold the burned or used matches 9, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4.

The matches 7 are stored within the compartment 6 in the usual manner to the full depth thereof, and the bottom 5 normally rests against the ange 4, thus closing the slot or opening 4a in the bottom of the drawer. As the matches from the compartment 6 are extracted and used, the burned splints are inserted through said slot or opening 4a into the chamber 8 which is formed by pressing the bottom upwardly toward the open top to a depth commensurate with the space left vacant in the compartment 6 by the removal of the used matches. This operation is continued until the supply of good matches is exhausted, when the compartment 8 will be more or less full, dependent upon the number of burned matches stored therein, at which time the box with its contents of burned matches may be thrown away.

Persons using matches from boxes of the usual type within a home or building dislike to throw the burned or charred matches upon the floor, and consequently if this is not done the burned match is frequently put back into the box with the good matches, which, if repeated again and again, will cause considerable annoyance in separating the good matches for removal from the burned ones. By means of the present invention these objections are entirely overcome, and the matches after use may be stored in the box in a neat and cleanly manner and without mixing the same with the good matches, and so that after all the good matches have been used the box and refuse contained therein may be thrown away in a compact package, the advantages of which will bemanifest.

In practice, the slotted end of the drawer is arranged at the end of the casing 2 provided with the bead 3, by which the latter acts as an indicator to enable the user to determine which end of the drawer should be pushed out in order to obtain access to the burned match compartment.

n the modiied form of our invention shown in Fig'. 5 the bottom 4f is provided with a slot or opening 4b at or near one of its ends, said slot or opening being comparatively short and narrow and formed by cutting away a partially circular section of said bottom, making the slot or opening of just siiiticieiit size for the free passage oir' the burned matches to the compartment 8. An opening of this character may be provided at each end of the bottom 4;, in which event the indicator 3 may be dispensed with, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described the invention, we claim z- A match box comprising` a casing open at an end thereof, a drawer slidably mounted in the casing and open at the top thereof, said drawer being withdrawable from the open end of the casing, and a false bottom loosely mounted in the chamber of the drawer and dividing the same into an upper live match receiving compartment and a lower dead match receiving compartment, said false bottom being freely movable for automatic adjustment to vary the depth of said compartments according to the number of matches respectively contained therein, the outer end portion of the bottom of said drawer having` an opening therein exposed upon a partial opening movement of the drawer for the insertion of dead matches into said dead match compartment.

ln testimony whereof we aihx our signa tures in presence of two witnesses.

VIVIAN T. MOYS. HUBERT E. MOYS.

Witnesses Enw. Hawoon, S. T. PENNBRIDGE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. i 

